System and method for controlling video data to be rendered in a video conference environment

ABSTRACT

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes establishing a video session in which a plurality of displays are used for rendering video data, and evaluating a presentation element in order to identify a control element that includes control data. The control element is included in the presentation element. The method further includes communicating at least a portion of the control data such that it can be used to determine which video data is to be rendered on the plurality of displays.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates in general to the field of communications, andmore particularly, to controlling video data to be rendered in a videoconference environment.

BACKGROUND

Video services have become increasingly important in today's society. Incertain architectures, service providers may seek to offer sophisticatedvideoconferencing services for their end users. The videoconferencingarchitecture can offer an “in-person” meeting experience over a network.Videoconferencing architectures can deliver real-time, face-to-faceinteractions between people using advanced visual, audio, andcollaboration technologies. Some issues have arisen in meeting scenarioswhen presentation materials accompany a video conference. Typically,display surface area is limited such that not all video data pertinentto the meeting can be shown at all times. Hence, the ability to optimizedisplay use during a video conference presents a significant challengeto developers and designers, who attempt to offer a videoconferencingsolution that is realistic and that mimics a real-life meeting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To provide a more complete understanding of the present disclosure andfeatures and advantages thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, whereinlike reference numerals represent like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a communication system forrendering video data in a conferencing environment in accordance withone embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a communication system forcontrolling display use in a conferencing environment in accordance withone embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram of an example display in accordance withone embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart illustrating example operationsassociated with one embodiment of the communication system;

FIG. 5 is a simplified flowchart illustrating example operationsassociated with an embodiment of the communication system; and

FIG. 6 is a simplified flowchart illustrating example operationsassociated with an embodiment of the communication system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Overview

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes establishinga video session in which a plurality of displays are used for renderingvideo data, and evaluating a presentation element in order to identify acontrol element that includes control data. The control element isincluded in the presentation element. The method further includescommunicating at least a portion of the control data such that it can beused to determine which video data is to be rendered on the plurality ofdisplays.

In more specific embodiments, the control data provides a switchingcommand that relates to rendering particular image data associated witha particular end user on a particular one of the displays. The controlelement can provide a change in switching mode such that subsequentcontrol elements included in the presentation element control which ofthe video data is to be rendered on the displays. In more particularembodiments, the control element is communicated to a multipoint networkelement configured to exchange data with a plurality of end users in thevideo session.

The control element can be decrypted and reformatted before beingcommunicated to the multipoint network element. In specificconfigurations, presence information and contact information can beaccessed in order to retrieve information associated with an end userwhose image data is to be rendered on at least one of the displays.

Example Embodiments

Turning to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram illustratinga communication system 10 for conducting a video conference inaccordance with one example embodiment. In a specific implementation,communication system 10 is configured to control which (and how) videodata is rendered during the video conference. As used herein in thisSpecification, the term ‘video data’ includes presentation elements,image data associated with participants, or any other information ordata that may relate to the video conference. FIG. 1 includes multipleendpoints associated with various end users of the video conference. Ingeneral, endpoints may be geographically separated, where in thisparticular example, endpoints 12 a-c are located in San Jose, Calif. andcounterparty endpoints are located in Chicago, Ill. FIG. 1 includes amultipoint manager element 20 coupled to endpoints 12 a-c. Note that thenumerical and letter designations assigned to the endpoints do notconnote any type of hierarchy; the designations are arbitrary and havebeen used for purposes of teaching only. These designations should notbe construed in any way to limit their capabilities, functionalities, orapplications in the potential environments that may benefit from thefeatures of communication system 10.

In this example, each endpoint is fitted discreetly along a desk and isproximate to its associated participant. Such endpoints could beprovided in any other suitable location, as FIG. 1 only offers one of amultitude of possible implementations for the concepts presented herein.In one example implementation, the endpoints are videoconferencingendpoints, which can assist in receiving and communicating video andaudio data. Other types of endpoints are certainly within the broadscope of the outlined concept, and some of these example endpoints arefurther described below. Each endpoint 12 a-c is configured to interfacewith a respective multipoint manager element, such as multipoint managerelement 20, which helps to coordinate and to process information beingtransmitted by the end users.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a number of cameras 14 a-14 c and displays 15a-15 c are provided for the conference. Displays 15 a-15 c render imagesto be seen by the end users and, in this particular example, reflect athree-display design (e.g., a ‘triple’). Note that as used herein inthis specification, the term ‘display’ is meant to connote any elementthat is capable of rendering an image during a video conference. Thiswould necessarily be inclusive of any panel, screen, Telepresencedisplay or wall, computer display, plasma element, television, monitor,or any other suitable surface or element that is capable of suchrendering.

The components of communication system 10 may use specializedapplications and hardware to create a system that can leverage anetwork. Communication system 10 can use Internet protocol (IP)technology and can run on an integrated voice, video, and data network.The system can also support high quality, real-time voice, and videocommunications using broadband connections. It can further offercapabilities for ensuring quality of service (QoS), security,reliability, and high availability for high-bandwidth applications suchas video. Power and Ethernet connections for all end users can beprovided. Participants can use their laptops to access data for themeeting, join a meeting place protocol or a Web session, or stayconnected to other applications throughout the meeting.

As a general proposition, the videoconferencing technology ofcommunication system 10 can be configured to create an in-person meetingexperience for its participants. To replicate the conference roomexperience, the architecture is configured to provide a mechanism forintelligently (and autonomously) rendering images (on videoconferencingdisplays) of certain participants, who exude high levels ofparticipation. Conversely, the system can also identify low levels ofinvolvement of participants and, accordingly, minimize their associatedimages on the displays. This can better simulate the experience of aconversation that occurs in an actual conference room.

For purposes of illustrating certain example techniques of communicationsystem 10, it is important to understand the communications that may betraversing the network. The following foundational information may beviewed as a basis from which the present disclosure may be properlyexplained. Typically, when documents are provided during a videoconference, the persons who spoke last would continue to be rendered onthe display screen. These individuals may be relevant to the document,but this is only arbitrary and not by design. In a worst-case scenario,the person being rendered has no relationship to the documents that arebeing displayed for the group to view during the video session.

Furthermore, in existing conferencing architectures, display real estateis scarce: meaning that not all of the participants of the video sessionhave their images rendered on a display. Instead, participants arecommonly switched on/off displays based on voice activity. In areal-life meeting scenario, when a person (e.g., in a boardroom setting)is ready to present materials for the group, he may stand and gather histeam at the front of the room. This physical signaling of which teammembers are responsible for certain documents is nonexistent in currentvideo conferencing architectures.

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure,communication system 10 is configured to overcome these shortcomings(and others) in providing a more intelligent solution that linkspresentation elements to individual participants. Note that as usedherein in this Specification, the term ‘presentation element’ includesdocuments (e.g., e-mails, Word documents, PDFs, PowerPointpresentations, etc.), graphics, images, media, pictures, slides, anyvideo object, any audio object, or any other appropriate element thatcould be provided in conjunction with a video conference. Communicationsystem 10 empowers an author (or an administrator) to control whichimages are being rendered on a given set of displays. In the simplestexample, a slide presenter can dictate which participants would be shownby the system during the slide presentation through the placement ofcontrol elements. Additionally, the slide presenter can similarlycontrol how, when, and which presentation materials would be rendered onspecific displays.

In one particular embodiment, a control element is used as an indicatorof how the video conferencing system should render images. For example,a presenter who is authoring slides or media for a given presentation(that occurs in a multipoint videoconferencing environment) can simplyadd icons, markers, bar codes, syntax, or some other unique indicator(i.e., control elements) to the slides or to the media, where thosecontrol elements identify which meeting participants are linked toparticular slides or specific media references. Multipoint managerelement 20 is configured to use those control elements to switch-in theparticipants referenced during the presentation. This would allow theparticipants to be displayed either on-screen (or at least moreprominently) at the time that slide is being presented.

Note that such a configuration could offer benefits for a number ofscenarios. For example, such a configuration would obviate the need forpresenters to simultaneously call out participants, as their associatedslide is being rendered during the presentation. In other examples, thiscould be advantageous when certain individuals have authoritativeopinions, or expertise associated with particular subject areas. It isthose individuals that the group is interested in watching on thedisplay, as subject matter (which coincides with their expertise) isbeing discussed during the video session. Advantageously, communicationsystem 10 offers a straightforward mechanism for simply adding controlelements to presentation materials in order to achieve better controlduring the video session. The control data included within (or linkedto) the control elements can control switching modes, which video datashould be rendered, how images are to be rendered (e.g., across alldisplays, shown in a middle display of a three-display arrangement,etc.), when video data should be rendered, etc.

Logistically, communication system 10 can embed (i.e., include) any typeof control element (e.g., a syntax) into a presentation in order tointelligently reference individuals or materials associated with thevideo session. Note that there could be an intermediate activityassociated with first identifying the control element, and then lookingup control data associated with that control element. Alternatively, thecontrol data can be provisioned within the actual control element suchthat this type of lookup mechanism would be unnecessary. In thatinstance, the actual control element would trigger certain actions thatwould occur during the video session. For example, a given controlelement could signal that a specific, authoritative individual should berendered on everyone's display. In other instances, the control elementcould trigger a different type of switching mode (e.g., from voiceswitching to using the control elements exclusively for switching), orit could trigger which materials would be provided at specific displays(e.g., an important slide being rendered on the main, center display ofa three-display configuration). In another example scenario, the twoforemost experts of the group who have knowledge about that particularmaterial could straddle the presentation graphic. Thus, for thatparticular example, the middle display (having the important slide)could be rendered simultaneously with the persons having the mostknowledge about that subject area.

Other example arrangements can indicate that the ball should be passedto another participant based on a slide transition. For example, as agiven slide appears during the presentation, the control element can bequickly read by the endpoint itself (or read by multipoint managerelement 20), which would react to the control element and dictatecertain switching activities to be executed. In a general sense, anyoption or activity that could be toggled or changed in a videoconference could be signaled through the control element.

In another example, consider a scenario in which a technology manager ispresenting a new electronic product to a group of individuals. Each ofthe manager's slides can relate to certain aspects of the new product(e.g., the software features, the hardware functions, the targetedmarket of end users, etc.), where various teams under management wouldbe present for the important video conference. As the manager worksthrough his presentation, and begins launching certain applications thatinclude segmented documentation, the control element can dictate whichparticipants should be rendered on associated displays. The managercould continue to ‘narrate’ the presentation: permitting each of theassociated teams to interject their commentary during the presentation,as their images are properly rendered on corresponding displays.

The control element can be any type of object that can dictate whichindividuals should be rendered on a display at certain times, based oncertain actions or events, etc. The control element could be a simplemachine readable object, which simply points to enhanced informationabout how images should be rendered on the display. In other instances,the control element is a more sophisticated object that includes complexinformation dictating the activities that should occur during thepresentation. In one broad example configuration, the control elementsimply includes control data, which can reflect any type of informationthat could influence any type of switching activity, switching mode,video data rendering operation, or command that changes some aspect ofan existing video session. In one particular example, each of endpointsis configured to interpret the control element in order to send anappropriate command to its associated multipoint manager element 20.This could include interpreting the control element and providing sometype of metadata processing for multipoint manager element 20.Alternatively, this responsibility can be provisioned within multipointmanager element 20. In other examples, this responsibility can be sharedamongst the endpoints and their respective multipoint manager element.Any suitable combination or hybrid of these alternatives is clearlywithin the broad scope of the present disclosure.

Note that there is a set mode in which multipoint manager element 20would operate. For example, multipoint manager element 20 can beconfigured to render images associated with the loudest voice in thevideo session. However, when multipoint manager element 20 identifies(or receives) the control element (e.g., provided in any presentationelement), then it can switch modes such that it would then follow theintelligence behind the control element. In a particular embodiment, agiven administrator can manually switch modes, or lock modes such thatthe switching is dictated based on the control elements being seen, oralternatively the administrator can obscure the control elements suchthat normal (e.g., default) voice switching would be executed during thevideo session. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, an administrator canreadily override any of the control element provisioning using some typeof central control mechanism. Additionally, control elements can bepreconfigured (e.g., not systematically read by a given endpoint, butpreloaded before the presentation elements were offered during the videosession). In other examples, the control elements can be dynamicallyupdated, manually updated (e.g., by administrator, by the individualauthors themselves, etc.), or adjusted using any appropriate feedbackmechanisms.

As an enhancement to the operations of communication system 10, thecontrol element can be used to dictate how certain documentation shouldbe rendered during the video session. For example, if there were oneimportant graphic that deserves the attention of the entire group ofparticipants on the call, then the control element could dictate thatall the screens would render that graphic. In other examples, themajority of the displays would include the important graphic, where atleast one screen would be reserved for an authoritative individual, whocan walk through the graphic with the group.

In other instances involving more complex documentation, the controlelement can be configured to dictate picture-in-picture imagery suchthat the complex documentation would be shown more clearly (e.g., ormore emphatically), while the individual tasked with explaining theinformation can be minimized (i.e., via picture-in-picture) in theparticular displays. In essence, the control element would dictate anytype of command that outlines how the video data is to be displayedduring the video session.

In another use case scenario, the control element can be provisioned asa logo. For example, a CEO receiving status reports from differentdivisions (where each division has its own logo) could readily see theresponsible parties for each of the status reports. In operation,multipoint manager element 20 can switch the responsible party onto thescreen simultaneously as the slide is being shown to the group involvedin the video session. In one particular instance, an administrator (orthe control element itself) could declare a particular image as‘sticky’: meaning that it will continue to be rendered unlessprovisioned otherwise. For example, the regional manager of the divisioncould have his image data is labeled as sticky while those statusreports are being reviewed: even though other team members may bespeaking the entire time the regional manager has his image datadisplayed.

Before turning to some of the additional operations of communicationsystem 10, a brief discussion is provided about some of theinfrastructure of FIG. 1. Endpoints 12 a-c may be used by someonewishing to participate in a video conference in communication system 10.The term ‘endpoint’ may be inclusive of devices used to initiate acommunication, such as a switch, a console, a proprietary endpoint, atelephone, a bridge, a computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), alaptop or electronic notebook, an i-Phone, an iPad, a Google Droid, anyother type of smartphone, or any other device, component, element, orobject capable of initiating voice, audio, or data exchanges withincommunication system 10.

Endpoints 12 a-c may also be inclusive of a suitable interface to an enduser, such as a microphone, a display, or a keyboard or other terminalequipment. Endpoints 12 a-c may also include any device that seeks toinitiate a communication on behalf of another entity or element, such asa program, a database, or any other component, device, element, orobject capable of initiating a voice or a data exchange withincommunication system 10. Data, as used herein, refers to any type ofvideo, numeric, voice, or script data, or any type of source or objectcode, or any other suitable information in any appropriate format thatmay be communicated from one point to another. Additional detailsrelating to endpoints are provided below with reference to FIG. 2.

In operation, multipoint manager element 20 can be configured toestablish, or to foster a video session between one or more end users,which may be located in various other sites and locations. Multipointmanager element 20 can also coordinate and process various policiesinvolving endpoints 12 a-c. In general, multipoint manager element 20may communicate with endpoints 12 a-c through any standard orproprietary conference control protocol. Multipoint manager element 20includes a switching component that determines which signals are to berouted to individual endpoints 12 a-c. Multipoint manager element 20 canalso determine how individual end users are seen by others involved inthe video conference based on control elements (which may be found inpresentation elements). Furthermore, multipoint manager element 20 cancontrol the timing and coordination of these activities. Multipointmanager element 20 can also include a media layer that can copyinformation or data, which can be subsequently retransmitted or simplyforwarded along to one or more endpoints 12 a-c.

Turning to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating onepossible set of details associated with communication system 10. In thisexample, endpoints 12 a and 12 c in San Jose are configured to interfacewith multipoint manager element 20, which is coupled to a network 40.Along similar rationales, a set of endpoints 12 e and 12 f in Chicagoare configured to interface with a counterparty multipoint managerelement 50, which is similarly coupled to network 40. In the particularimplementation of FIG. 2, endpoints 12 a, 12 c, 12 e, 12 f include arespective processor 32 a, 32 c, 32 e, 32 f, a respective commanddecoder module 34 a, 34 c, 34 e, 34 f, a respective memory element 44 a,44 c, 44 e, 44 f, a respective network interface 46 a, 46 c, 46 e, 46 f,a respective transmitting module 48 a, 48 c, 48 e, 48 f, and arespective receiving module 42 a, 42 c, 42 e, 42 f. Any one or more ofthese internal items of the endpoints may be consolidated or eliminatedentirely, or varied considerably, where those modifications may be madebased on particular communication needs, specific protocols, etc.

Network 40 represents a series of points or nodes of interconnectedcommunication paths for receiving and transmitting packets ofinformation that propagate through communication system 10. Network 40offers a communicative interface between the endpoints and other networkelements (e.g., multipoint manager elements 20, 50), and may be anylocal area network (LAN), Intranet, extranet, wireless local areanetwork (WLAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), wide area network(WAN), virtual private network (VPN), or any other appropriatearchitecture or system that facilitates communications in a networkenvironment. Network 40 may implement a UDP/IP connection and use aTCP/IP communication protocol in particular embodiments of the presentdisclosure. However, network 40 may alternatively implement any othersuitable communication protocol for transmitting and receiving datapackets within communication system 10. Network 40 may foster anycommunications involving services, content, video, voice, or data moregenerally, as it is exchanged between end users and various networkelements.

In one example implementation, multipoint manager elements 20, 50include respective processors 52 a-52 b, respective memory elements 54a-54 b, and respective conference control modules 56 a-b, which maydictate the images that are to be rendered on a given display for endusers in a video session. Multipoint manager elements 20, 50 can beaware of (and potentially store) information about who is being seen bythe end users of the video conference. Multipoint manager elements 20,50 can selectively distribute signals to various end users using controlelements provided in presentation materials.

In one particular instance, multipoint manager elements 20, 50 areconfigured to exchange data in a network environment such that theintelligent screen management functionality discussed herein isachieved. As used herein in this Specification, the term ‘networkelement’ is meant to encompass various types of routers, switches,gateways, bridges, loadbalancers, firewalls, servers, inline servicenodes, proxies, processors, modules, or any other suitable device,component, element, or object operable to exchange information in anetwork environment. The network element may include appropriateprocessors, memory elements, hardware and/or software to support (orotherwise execute) the activities associated with using a processor forscreen management functionalities, as outlined herein. Moreover, thenetwork element may include any suitable components, modules,interfaces, or objects that facilitate the operations thereof. This maybe inclusive of appropriate algorithms and communication protocols thatallow for the effective exchange of data or information.

In a specific implementation, multipoint manager elements 20, 50 includesoftware to achieve (or to foster) the screen management operations, asoutlined herein in this document. Additionally, endpoints 12 a, 12 c, 12e, and 12 f may include software that similarly achieves (or fosters)the screen management operations described herein. For example, thiscould include conference control modules 56 a-b and/or command decodermodules 34 a, 34 c, 34 e, 34 f, which can be configured to execute manyof the activities discussed herein with respect to screen managementfunctions. Furthermore, in one example, multipoint manager elements 20,50 and endpoints 12 a, 12 c, 12 e, and 12 f can have an internalstructure (e.g., have a processor, a memory element, etc.) to facilitatesome of the operations described herein. In other embodiments, all ofthese screen management features may be provided externally to theseelements or included in some other network element to achieve thisintended functionality. Alternatively, any other network element caninclude this software (or reciprocating software) that can coordinatewith multipoint manager elements 20, 50 and endpoints 12 a, 12 c, 12 e,and 12 f in order to achieve the operations, as outlined herein.

Note that in certain example implementations, the screen managementfunctions outlined herein may be implemented by logic encoded in one ormore tangible media (e.g., embedded logic provided in an applicationspecific integrated circuit [ASIC], digital signal processor [DSP]instructions, software [potentially inclusive of object code and sourcecode] to be executed by a processor, or other similar machine, etc.). Insome of these instances, a memory element [as shown in FIG. 2] can storedata used for the operations described herein. This includes the memoryelement being able to store software, logic, code, or processorinstructions that are executed to carry out the activities described inthis Specification. A processor can execute any type of instructionsassociated with the data to achieve the operations detailed herein inthis Specification. In one example, the processor [as shown in FIG. 2]could transform an element or an article (e.g., data) from one state orthing to another state or thing. In another example, the activitiesoutlined herein may be implemented with fixed logic or programmablelogic (e.g., software/computer instructions executed by a processor) andthe elements identified herein could be some type of a programmableprocessor, programmable digital logic (e.g., a field programmable gatearray [FPGA], an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), anelectrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM)) or an ASIC thatincludes digital logic, software, code, electronic instructions, or anysuitable combination thereof.

Hence, any of the devices illustrated in the preceding FIGURES mayinclude a processor that can execute software or an algorithm to performthe screen management activities, as discussed in this Specification.Furthermore, multipoint manager elements 20, 50 can include memoryelements for storing information to be used in achieving the intelligentscreen management operations, as outlined herein. These devices mayfurther keep information in any suitable memory element [random accessmemory (RAM), ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, ASIC, etc.], software, hardware, or inany other suitable component, device, element, or object whereappropriate and based on particular needs. Any of the memory itemsdiscussed herein (e.g., database, table, cache, key, etc.) should beconstrued as being encompassed within the broad term ‘memory element.’Similarly, any of the potential processing elements, modules, andmachines described in this Specification should be construed as beingencompassed within the broad term ‘processor.’

In operation, and with reference to endpoint 12 a, command decodermodule 34 a may be used to decode control elements in a document, suchas a slide presentation. In general, the control elements includecontrol data such as a command, an object, metadata, etc. that providedirection over the presentation of data and participants. This includesidentifying certain participants that should be displayed on a screenduring a slide, controlling the layout of a slide on the screen, etc.For example, in a multiscreen environment, a control element may includecontrol data that dictates that a slide should be stretched acrossmultiple displays, or that multiple displays should be used to renderimage data associated with a particular participant. In another example,the number of participants may exceed the number of available screens,and a control element may include a command to display a particularparticipant, or to change switching modes. The underlying commands maybe formatted using a standard markup language, such as extensible markuplanguage (XML), hypertext markup language (HTML), or any other suitableprotocol scheme.

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram illustrating a screen 60 and a slide 62,which collectively can be used to demonstrate certain features ofcommunication system 10. Slide 62 may display presentation materialssuch as charts and graphs, as well as one or more control elements,which are provided at the bottom of slide 62. Control elements may berepresented by various icons in the slide, such as a key icon 64, a barcode 66, a person icon 68, a widget icon 70, etc. Note that suchexamples are not exhaustive and, further, merely represent some of themany control elements that may be used to dictate commands associatedwith managing (e.g., inclusive of switching, changing, optimizing etc.)video data on one or more displays. Operationally, these controlelements provide a visual cue to presenters and to other participantsabout upcoming switching activities. However, it is imperative to notethat such control elements can be hidden (or simply not seen by thenaked eye) such that the switching activities can still occur withoutvisually cueing the participants of the video session. Hence, anysuitable control element can be included in a given presentation elementin order to influence videoconferencing activities. A given endpoint, ora multipoint manager element can evaluate (i.e., read, identify, detect,monitor, access, or otherwise process) a presentation element in orderto determine which actions should occur during the video session.

In one particular instance, contact information and presence informationcan be used in conjunction with the activities of communication system10. For example, if the given control element signaled that Joe Smithshould be rendered, additional information can be gleaned from thestored contact information (e.g., accessed through an e-mail platformsuch as Microsoft Outlook, accessed through a directory, accessedthrough a PDA, a smartphone, an iPad, etc.). Similarly, presenceinformation can be readily gleaned through any appropriate mechanism(e.g., e-mail platforms, instant messaging platforms, or any othersuitable platform in which presence information can be accessed).Consider an example in which a given control element includes controldata that signals that an authoritative figure (John Adams) should bepresented in conjunction with a given PowerPoint slide. If his presenceinformation dictated that he is simply unavailable at this time, asecond participant could be used in his place (e.g., his immediate incommand), or the second most authoritative figure in the group could beused in his place, or the presentation can be vectored back to theadministrator, etc. Any such mechanisms are readily accommodated by thebroad teachings of communication system 10.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram illustrating one potentialoperation associated with an embodiment of communication system 10. Aslide presentation is started at 100, which may be triggered byuploading the presentation to an endpoint, or by receiving instructionsto display a document, for example. Each slide is inspected at 105,where such inspection activities may be executed by a command decodermodule, for example. In one particular instance, such intelligence isresident in a given endpoint; however, each multipoint manager element20, 50 could also be provisioned with the requisite intelligence toevaluate a given slide in order to detect the presence of a controlelement.

If a slide includes an embedded control element, the control element isdecoded, if necessary, at 110 to extract control data (e.g., a command).For example, if the control element is compressed, it may beuncompressed, or if the control element is in some type of encryptedprotocol (or is in some unreadable/inconsistent format) the controlelement would be decrypted, reformatted, or otherwise processed in orderto evaluate a command activity. At 115, the command is translated orotherwise adapted into a format suitable for a multipoint managerelement. For example, if the command in the control element is codedusing XML, the command may be translated and packaged for transmissionusing a compatible conference control protocol. The command (i.e., or atleast a portion of the control data) may then be communicated to amultipoint manager element at 120. The multipoint manager element maythen execute the command at 125. In a simplistic example, the commandcould dictate that at the start of the presentation, the leader of thegroup should be rendered on everyone's screen: regardless of whether ornot he is the active speaker.

Turning to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram illustrating amore detailed example of a potential operation associated with anembodiment of communication system 10. In this example, a presentationis started at 200. Each slide in the presentation may be inspected todetect the presence of control elements at 205. If a slide includes anembedded control element, it may be decoded, if necessary, to extract acommand at 210. In one embodiment, the command identifies a particularparticipant that should be displayed on a display during the slide. Theparticipant may be identified in a variety of ways such as byassociation with a particular location or endpoint, or by a database oran address book lookup at 215. This can include contact data and/orpresence data, as identified previously. All such information may bestored in an endpoint, in a multipoint manager element, or in any othersuitable memory element (e.g., a database, a table, a key, cache, arepository, etc.). At 220, the command can be translated into a formatsuitable for a multipoint manager. The command is subsequentlycommunicated to a multipoint manager element at 225. The multipointmanager element may then execute the command at 230. In this particularinstance, the command causes image data associated with the identifiedparticipant to be rendered during the video conference so that he isprominently displayed on a particular display without having to speakfirst.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram illustrating another more detailedexample of a potential operation associated with an embodiment ofcommunication system 10. In this example, a presentation is started at300, where again each slide in the presentation may be inspected todetect the presence of control elements at 305. If a slide includes acontrol element, it may be decoded, if necessary, to identify controldata (e.g., extract a command) at 310. In one embodiment, the controldata includes instructions for displaying a slide on a video displayduring a video session. At 315, the command is translated into a formatsuitable for a multipoint manager to understand. The command is thentransmitted to a multipoint manager element at 320. The multipointmanager element may then execute the command at 325, causing the slideto be displayed, for example, across all available screens.

In yet other embodiments, any combination of control elements may beembedded in a slide. For example, a slide may include one controlelement that identifies a participant and another control element thatsuggests placement of the slide such that the participant is placed onthe left screen, and the slide is stretched across the middle and rightscreens.

Note that with the examples provided above, as well as numerous otherexamples provided herein, interaction may be described in terms of two,three, or four network elements. However, this has been done forpurposes of clarity and example only. In certain cases, it may be easierto describe one or more of the functionalities of a given set of flowsby only referencing a limited number of network elements. It should beappreciated that communication system 10 (and its teachings) are readilyscalable and can accommodate a large number of components, as well asmore complicated/sophisticated arrangements and configurations.Accordingly, the examples provided should not limit the scope or inhibitthe broad teachings of communication system 10 as potentially applied toa myriad of other architectures. Additionally, although described withreference to particular scenarios, where a particular module, such as acommand decoder module, is provided within a network element, thesemodules can be provided externally, or consolidated and/or combined inany suitable fashion. In certain instances, such modules may be providedin a single proprietary unit.

It is also important to note that the steps in the appended diagramsillustrate only some of the possible signaling scenarios and patternsthat may be executed by, or within, communication system 10. Some ofthese steps may be deleted or removed where appropriate, or these stepsmay be modified or changed considerably without departing from the scopeof teachings provided herein. In addition, a number of these operationshave been described as being executed concurrently with, or in parallelto, one or more additional operations. However, the timing of theseoperations may be altered considerably. The preceding operational flowshave been offered for purposes of example and discussion. Substantialflexibility is provided by communication system 10 in that any suitablearrangements, chronologies, configurations, and timing mechanisms may beprovided without departing from the teachings provided herein.

Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, andmodifications may be ascertained to one skilled in the art and it isintended that the present disclosure encompass all such changes,substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications as fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims. In order to assist the UnitedStates Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and, additionally, anyreaders of any patent issued on this application in interpreting theclaims appended hereto, Applicant wishes to note that the Applicant: (a)does not intend any of the appended claims to invoke paragraph six (6)of 35 U.S.C. section 112 as it exists on the date of the filing hereofunless the words “means for” or “step for” are specifically used in theparticular claims; and (b) does not intend, by any statement in thespecification, to limit this disclosure in any way that is not otherwisereflected in the appended claims.

1. A method, comprising: establishing a video session in which aplurality of displays are used for rendering video data; evaluating apresentation element in order to identify a control element thatincludes control data, wherein the control element is included in thepresentation element; and communicating at least a portion of thecontrol data such that it can be used to determine which video data isto be rendered on the plurality of displays.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the control data provides a switching command that relates torendering particular image data associated with a particular end user ona particular one of the displays.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thecontrol element provides a change in switching mode such that subsequentcontrol elements included in the presentation element control which ofthe video data is to be rendered on the displays.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the control element is communicated to a multipoint networkelement configured to exchange data with a plurality of end users in thevideo session.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the control element isdecrypted and reformatted before being communicated to the multipointnetwork element.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein contact informationis accessed in order to retrieve information associated with an end userwhose image data is to be rendered on at least one of the displays. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the presentation element is a selectedone of a group of presentation elements, the group consisting of: a) aWord document; b) a PDF document; c) a PowerPoint document; d) a mediaobject; e) a video object; f) an audio object; g) an e-mail; and h) agraphic.
 8. Logic encoded in non-transitory media that includes code forexecution and when executed by a processor operable to performoperations comprising: establishing a video session in which a pluralityof displays are used for rendering video data; evaluating a presentationelement in order to identify a control element that includes controldata, wherein the control element is included in the presentationelement; and communicating at least a portion of the control data suchthat it can be used to determine which video data is to be rendered onthe plurality of displays.
 9. The logic of claim 8, wherein the controldata provides a switching command that relates to rendering particularimage data associated with a particular end user on a particular one ofthe displays.
 10. The logic of claim 8, wherein contact information isaccessed in order to retrieve information associated with an end userwhose image data is to be rendered on at least one of the displays. 11.The logic of claim 8, wherein the control element provides a change inswitching mode such that subsequent control elements included in thepresentation element control which of the video data is to be renderedon the displays.
 12. The logic of claim 8, wherein the control elementis communicated to a multipoint network element configured to exchangedata with a plurality of end users in the video session.
 13. The logicof claim 12, wherein the control element is decrypted and reformattedbefore being communicated to the multipoint network element.
 14. Anapparatus, comprising: a memory element configured to store data; acommand decoder module; and a processor operable to execute instructionsassociated with the data, wherein the processor, the command decodermodule, and the memory element cooperate in order to: establish a videosession in which a plurality of displays are used for rendering videodata; evaluate a presentation element in order to identify a controlelement that includes control data, wherein the control element isincluded in the presentation element; and communicate at least a portionof the control data such that it can be used to determine which videodata is to be rendered on the plurality of displays.
 15. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein the control data provides a switching command thatrelates to rendering particular image data associated with a particularend user on a particular one of the displays.
 16. The apparatus of claim14, wherein the control element provides a change in switching mode suchthat subsequent control elements included in the presentation elementcontrol which of the video data is to be rendered on the displays. 17.The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control element is communicatedto a multipoint network element configured to exchange data with aplurality of end users in the video session.
 18. The apparatus of claim17, wherein the control element is decrypted and reformatted beforebeing communicated to the multipoint network element.
 19. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein contact information is accessed in order toretrieve information associated with an end user whose image data is tobe rendered on at least one of the displays.
 20. The apparatus of claim14, wherein the presentation element is a selected one of a group ofpresentation elements, the group consisting of: a) a Word document; b) aPDF document; c) a PowerPoint document; d) a media object; e) a videoobject; f) an audio object; g) an e-mail; and h) a graphic.